Christian McCaffrey set for NFC Championship
CMC good to go, Mitchell questionable ahead of NFC title game initially appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
After sitting out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Christian McCaffrey returned to the sphere on Friday and was faraway from the 49ers‘ harm report heading into Sunday’s NFC Championship sport dealing with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 49ers will want everybody, McCaffrey included, to be able to cease the NFC’s high seed at Lincoln Monetary Discipline. The All-Professional operating again’s counterpart, Elijah Mitchell, was listed as questionable for the large sport, together with cornerback Ambry Thomas.
Earlier within the week, coach Kyle Shanahan shared that he believed each Mitchell and McCaffrey could be obtainable to play in Sunday’s contest. The one-two punch of each backs has been efficient for Shanahan’s offense.
Mitchell has been a particularly efficient ball provider when he has been wholesome, however that has been a problem. The second-year participant was sidelined for a lot of the 2022 NFL season with a knee harm, solely showing in seven video games.
“I feel he’s all the time the identical — he’s as violent of a runner,” Shanahan stated. “That’s why we began out calling him ‘Drano’ as a result of he all the time goes to the suitable gap. We additionally name him the ‘Trash Man,’ too, as a result of when he’s on the market, it seems like trash cans are banging round within the alley.”
“He likes to run into individuals violently when he has no the place to go, and that’s what makes him a particular again.”
McCaffrey, who was coping with a calf contusion, shared that whereas he remained off the sphere earlier within the week, he was nonetheless doing everything he could with reference to stroll throughs. The All-Professional ball provider additionally just isn’t afraid of contact.
“I feel Christian is nice at hitting the suitable holes, too,” Shanahan stated. “When there isn’t a gap there, he by no means turns issues down, and he’ll put his pads into individuals, too. However I do suppose they’re a extremely good combine with one another and their kinds.”
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who was on the harm report earlier within the week with an ankle harm, additionally was faraway from the harm report.
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Right here is the complete sport standing report for the NFC Championship Recreation:
San Francisco 49ers
OUT
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot)
Questionable
RB Elijah Mitchell (groin)
CB Ambry Thomas (ankle)
Philadelphia Eagles
Restricted participation
LB T.J. Edwards (ankle)
Full participation
T Lane Johnson (groin)
CB Avonte Maddox (toe)
(No Eagles standing report obtainable)